The blood supply and innervation of the choledochoduodenal junction in the cat.

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THE BLOOD SUPPLY AND INNERVATION O F T H E
CHOLEDOCHODUODENAL JUNCTION I N T H E CAT
JOHN W. SCHULZE AND EDWARD A. BOYDEN
Department of Anatomy, University o f Minnesota, Minneapolis
FOUR TEXT FIGURES AND THREE PLATES (EIOHT FIGURES)
In preparation for experimental studies on the nervous
regulation of bile flow in the cat1 - one of the few animals in
which the rate of emptying of the biliary tract has been studied
quantitatively - it became necessary to determine the origin,
course and relations of the finer nerves and arteries supplying
the sphincter of Oddi and contiguous areas of the duodenum.
METHODS
The vascular pattern was revealed by injecting the coeliac
artery with Ward's liquid latex (a rubber solution colored
with a bright red dye) diluted with an equal volume of distilled water. The technique has been described by Gamble
('39). After complete injection of the artery ligatures were
tied around the lower esophagus, the middle of the duodenum
and the root structures at the porta hepatis. A fixing solution
of 5% formalin and 14% glacial acetic acid was then injected
into the tied-off portion of the gastrointestinal tract until the
stomach was moderately distended. Meanwhile additional
fixative was poured over the external surface of the tract.
After 15 minutes the rubber was sufficiently set to permit
trimming of the specimen. Then it was removed, pinned out
over night under fixative and subsequently carried through
alcohol and benzol to a solution of 5 parts of methyl salicylate
and 3 parts of benzyl benzoate. Thus rendered translucent, the
finer radicals could be studied under a dissecting microscope.
See Johnson and Royden ( '43).
15
16
J O H N W. S C H U L Z E A N D EDWARD A. B O P D E N
It was soon noted, however, that the red dye in the latex was
dissolved by the alcohols. Accordingly, India ink was substituted, the injection mass being made up in the following
proportions : latex, 2 parts ; distilled water, 3 parts ; India ink,
1part.
The nerve supply was demonstrated by two methods: (1)
gross dissection of fresh specimens - a procedure which is
limited to a few hours after death, since thereafter the finer
nerves undergo cytolysis ; and (2) teasing methods -dissection with needles under a binocular microscope after specimens had been fixed and stained by the Wharton-Sihler
technique. The latter method is as follows :
Spread fresh tissues on paper and partially dry.
F i x in solution “ A ” for 18 hours
glycerine - 1part
glacial acetic acid-1 part
1%aqueous chloral hydrate - 6 parts
Stain in solution “ B ” for 24 hours
glycerine - 1part
Ehrlich’s hematoxylin -1 part
1%aqueous chloral hydrate -6 parts
Store specimen in pure glycerine
Decolorize (if necessary) in 70% alcohol 1%HCl
or in solution “A,”
+
Sihler’s method, discovered in the files of the late Franklin
P. Mall and reviewed by Wharton for the purpose of studying
the innervation of the human ureters (’32) and the female
reproductive organs of the monkey ( ’37 b), is especially
adapted for studying the nerve pathways that lie in thin
sheets of tissue such as the lesser omentum. The latter can
be stretched out, fixed and stained in a fluid medium that
permits dissection of a given region at leisure.
While Wharton recommended that the fresh membranes be
spread out on paper (’37 a ) it was the experience of Doctor
Schulze, who made the dissections shown in plates 2 and 3,
that the specimens came off the paper and contracted considerably after being placed in solution A. Therefore the specimens were pinned out on a flat disc of paraffin.
NERVES O F CHOLEDOCHODUODENAL JUNCTION
17
A second refinement of the technique was made in the destaining methods. It was found that decolorizing the specimen
long enough to render visible finer nerve plexuses in the
duodenal wall bleached the more exposed nerves in the omenturn. Accordingly the process was localized by dropping acid
alcohol through a pipette on just the area which was overstained and by tilting the dish so that the solution did not
reach the rest of the specimen. Furthermore this method
proved t o be highly selective, since the nerves retained the dye
longer than the hollow vessels of the duodenal wall. Similarly,
if decolorization was excessive, restaining could be controlled
by tilting the dish so that the staining solution covered only
the duodenal segment. To further increase the translucency
of the duodenal wall the mucosa and most of the submucosa
was scraped off. With these modifications of the technique it
was possible to demonstrate the finer ramifications of the
nerve plexus in the eholedochoduodenal region.
OBSERVATIONS
T h e blood supply of t h e choledochoduodenal junction
Figure 5 is a photograph of a cleared specimen of stomach
and duodenum that has been injected with liquid latex. The
duodenum has been rotated counter-clockwise (as viewed
from the stomach), and the common bile duct and portal vein
have been pulled up and to the reader’s left, in order to expose
the dorsal side of the duodenum and the under side of the duct.
The arteries appear white, the portal system (and the duct)
black.
The distribution of vessels resembles, in general, that of the
human, but the pattern reveals the greater mobility of the
viscera - the coeliac artery (cf. fig. 2) being nearly 1+inch
long. I n figure 5 it is shown tied at the point where it branches
into its three main divisions, the left gastric, the splenic and
the hepatic artery. The coronary vein, on the lesser curvature, assumes the course found in some human anomalies,
i.e., it drains down the lesser curvature, to enter the portal
18
J O H N W. SCHULZE AND EDWARD A. BOYDEN
vein, instead of up the lesser curvature toward the esophageal
end.
Of special interest, for the purpose in hand, is the gastroduodenal artery and its first large branch, the superior
pancreaticoduodenal artery. Just as the latter leaves the
parent vessel (fig. 5 ) it finds its course impeded by the common
bile duct. Accordingly, its first few duodenal rami branch from
a common stem-here designated the dorsal common duodenal artery (A. duodenalis communis dorsalis) - which
passes to the left of the bile duct, whereas the more distal
duodenal rami come off that part of the superior panereaticoduodenal artery which passes to the right of the bile duct.
I n the specimen shown in figure 5 , three proximal duodenal
rami (1,2, 3) arise from the common duodenal artery. However, it will be noted that these rami are also connected with
the main pancreaticoduodenal vessel by anastomoses passing
across the bile duct just before it enters the intestinal wall;
so that occasionally the third branch of the common duodenal
artery is taken over by the main artery. Also, the first branch
may arise independently.
This is the case in the specimen shown under higher power,
in figure 6. This detailed figure-drawn instead of being
photographed, in order to preserve the effect of depth - reveals the fact that the intramural part of the bile duct (see
segment to left of asterisk) is supplied by branches of the
third, fourth and fifth dorsal duodenal rami. These sink down
from the serosa (where they appear blackest) through successive layers of the intestinal wall to the surface of the
ampulla of’Vater, there to unite in capillary nets.
This circulatory pattern is quite different from that described by Dardinski ( ’ 3 5 ) , who reported that the arteries
accompanied the duct through the choledochal window of the
intestine. To be sure there are a few such branches in the cat
(to right of asterisk, fig. 6) but in the main the papilla seems
to be more nearly an integral part of the duodenum; wherefore to be supplied like any other portion of the gut Iny
arteries that dip down from the serosal surface. This may be
NERVES O F CHOLEDOCHODUODENAL JUNCTION
19
due t o the fact that in the cat (as in the dog) the musculature
of the duodenal wall is much more intimately related to the
intramural portion of the duct than in man (Boyden, '37, and
unpublished data), Whatever the interpretation, it appears
that in the cat the principal arteries to the major papilla do not
enter the intestine with the bile duct and its nerves.
T h e gross innervation of t h e choledochoduodenal junction
For purposes of general orientation this study was initiated
by gross dissections of fresh specimens. While this method
had obvious disadvantages - namely the nerves had to be
identified before cytolysis occurred, it was not always possible
to distinguish fine nerves from delicate vessels, and it was
evident that what appeared to be single trunks must have been
closely woven plexuses -nevertheless it revealed the existence
of a hitherto unrecognized nerve, directed toward the pylorus,
which is herewith designated the gastroduodenal nerve.
As shown in figure 1,it lies to the left of the artery of that
name and divides into two main branches. One of these
follows the right gastroepiploic artery and the other -here
designated the choledochoduodenal nerve -ends in the acuteangled space bounded by the choledochoduodenal junction.
If this be traced back to the parent stem (the gastroduodenal
nerve) the latter is seen to arise as a confluence of two trunks,
one a branch of the hepatic plexus and the other a branch of
the coeliac division of the dorsal (s. right) vagus nerve.
A second specimen (fig. 2) confirms this origin and displays
the gastroduodenal nerve from the right side. In the upper
part of the figure a segment of the portal vein has been
removed to expose the gastroduodenal nerve as it passes first
to the left of (i.e., deep to) the hepatic artery and then to the
left of the gastroduodenal artery. Following the nerve in the
reverse direction (i.e., toward the diaphragm) it can be seen
to join two hepatic branches of the right coeliac ganglion, one
of which (A) receives the coeliac branch of the dorsal (right)
vagus nerve, the other of which (B) receives (at X) contributions from the left coeliac ganglion.
20
J O H N W. SCHULZE A N D EDWARD A. BOPDEN
DITAZL AT &
FFm i.coeI.qanq.
&
Hep.pl.
1----Gast.-du0d.n.
Coe1.a.
Gast.-du0d.n.--Dors
duc
Panc
StLIlWk
Fig. 1 Dissection of lesser omentum and gastropancreatic folds of a cat
(E. A. Boyden). Specimen dissected and drawn within 4 hours after death to
give preliminary information regarding source and distribution of nerves t o
choledochoduodenal junction. The bile duct has been pulled up t o expose the
gastroduodenal plexus - a net work of fine nerves, surrounding the artery of that
name, and adjacent fibers (drawn as a solid area) which lie between it and the
bile duct. The gastroduodenal nerve lies on the left side of the artery of that name.
It can be traced centralward until it joins bundles in the hepatic plexus which
communicate with the left and right coeliac ganglia (see inset) and with the
coeliac division of the dorsal vagus nerve (cf. fig. 2, dissection from right side).
Hep.br., small twig of ventral vagus which traverses the gastrohepatic ligament
superficial t o the papillary process of the caudate lobe to reach the porta hepatis
and left lobe of the liver. By contrast the coeliac division of the dorsal vagus
passes deep to the papillary process t o course along the inferior margin of the
hepatic artery.
N E R V E S O F CHOLEDOCHODUODENAL J U N C T I O N
21
It would thus appear from gross dissection of fresh specimens that the choledochoduodenal ramus of the gastroduodenal nerve might contain fibers from the dorsal vagus and
from both coeliac ganglia, although fibers from the right side
would seem to predominate.
Fig. 2 Dissection of coeliac trunk and associated nerves in fresh specimen
as viewed from the right side to show origin of gastroduodenal nerve (E. A.
Boyden). The inferior vena cava has been severed (the separated cut ends are
indicated by two asterisks), the diaphragm has been cut and the liver moved
to reader’s left thereby exposing right side of stomach and coeliac division of
dorsal (8. right) vagus nerve. XX, communications between right and left
coeliac ganglia around anterior surface of coeliac artery. A, bundle of fibers
running from right coeliac ganglion to hepatic plexus where it is joined by bundle
from coeliac division of dorsal vsgus. Half way t o the liver the plexus gives off
the gastroduodenal nerve. Th.13, L.l, L.2, rami communicantes of right thoracolumbar chain, the latter giving off three splanchnic nerves.
22
J O H N W. SCHULZE AND EDWARD A. BOYDEN
A second avenue of approach to the choledochoduodenal
junction, as revealed by dissection of fresh specimens, is a
diffuse plexus of nerves surrounding the gastrodtuodenal
artery, herewith designated the gastroduodenal plexus. As
shown in figure 1, it gives off fibers which pass directly to
the upper common bile duct and other fibers, lower down,
which course along the duodenal branches of the superior
pancreaticoduodenal artery to enter the same acute-angled
space between the bile duct and the duodenum to which the
choledochoduodenal branch of the gastroduodenal nerve has
been traced.
The fibers of this plexus are derived from the hepatic
plexus and possibly from the coronary nerve of the lesser
curvature - a bundle swinging across the gastrohepatic ligament from left to right. This nerve appears to be made up
of fibers from the left gastric plexus and ventral vagus which
ascend the right gastric artery. I n the specimen shown in
figure 1, the coronary nerve appears to cross the gastroduodenal nerve superficially, but in many specimens the
greater portion of its fibers pass deep to it.
Analysis o f stained specimens
General observations. Figure 3 is a photograph of the
omentum and gastropancreatic folds of an immature animal
after the peritoneum, lymph nodes and veins have been removed. Immature animals were found to be unsuitable for
detailed dissection because of their fragility. However, this
particular figure is included to show the relationship of nerves
to arteries. It will be seen that in general the sympathetic
plexuses follow the vessels very closely, whereas vagal
branches are more apt to wander separately through the
omentum. While this dissection was incomplete, every possible effort was made to preserve all nerves in the specimens
photographed in figures 7 and 9, and one can say with certainty
that these figures give a comprehensive picture of the general
distribution of nerves to the common bile duct, duodenum
S E R V E S O F C H O L E D O C H O D U O D E N A L JUXCTIOIV
23
and stomach, and that a t least none of the larger nerves to
these organs have been destroyed.
The coronary nerve of the lesser curvature. I n lookirig at
dissections of the lesser omentum and gastropancrcatic folds
one is first struck by the fact that the large central area is
devoid of blood vessels and nerves (figs. 3 and 7) and then by
the fact that this area is circumscribed by a ring of nerves.
The lower half of this ring is formed by the “nervus coronarius
curvaturae minoris ” of Valentin (1841). This small but constant nerve issues from a union of ventral vagus fibers with
the sympathetic fibers of the left gastric plexus a t about the
angular incisure of the stomach. Passing from left to right
in close association with the gastric arterial arch (C.n., fig. 3 ) ,
it then ascends with the right gastric artcry until it is lost
by anastomoses in the plexuses surrounding this vessel and
other adjacent arteries. Some of its fibers can be traced to
the upper portion of the bile duct and into the hepatic plexus
(figs. 4, 8 and 10). I n most specimens (figs. S, 9 and 10) it
runs deep to the gastroduodenal nerve (Gd.n.), but in others
it lies superficial to it (figs. 1and 4).
Of special interest, from the standpoint of the composition
of this coronary nerve, is the specimen shown in figure 9.
What might be interpreted a s a segregated vagal portion of
the nerve crosses the omentum some distance above the lesser
curvature as an independent nerve (An.). On attaining the
left side of the right gastric artery it divides into a desccnding branch, which communicates with the coronary nerve,
and an ascending branch, crossing superficial to the gastroduodenal nerve, which anastomoses with the beginning of the
gastroduodenal plexus. Several of these fibers can be traced
to the common bile duct. This suggests that the coronary
nerve may normally contribute ventral vagus fibers to the
gastroduodenal plexus.
This finding is contrary to I<ollman’s description of the
cat (1860). He maintains that the fibers of the ventral vagus
in this nerve do not ascend with the sympathetic nerves along
the right gastric artery but separate from them and descend
24
J O H N W. SCHULZE A S D EDWVAIID A. BOYDEN
to supply the pyloric end of the stomach arid the first p a r t of
the duodenum.
Stowell (1881) arid Alexander ( ’40) make no mention of the
coronary nerve. RlcCrea (’24) describes it in the cat but
docs not name it. He states that it sends a series of branches
Fig. 3 Photograph of dissection of stained preparation of lesser omentum and
gastropancreatic folds in a half-grown cat ( x 1 2 ) . Arteries retained to shorn
relationship t o nerves and their differing appearance. C.a., coeliac artery surrounded by coeliac plexus (C.pl.) ; L.g.a., left gastric artery and plexus; H a . ,
hepatic artery and plexus (H.pl.) ; R.g.a., right gastric artery and coronary
nerve (C.n.) ; Gd.a., gastrodiiodenal artery in region where it has been stripped
of its plexus and where it is forking into superior pancreaticoduodenal and R.
gastroepiploic arteries ; Gd.n., gnstroduodensl nerve; Ch.r., two clioledochal raini
of gastroduodenal plexus, stretched by retraction of bile duet (C.b.d.) ; Chd.n.,
choledochoduodenal rnmus of gnstrodoodenal nerve (cf. fig. 1).
downward to the pyloric antrum and a few fine “hepatic
branches” upward toward the liver, one of which he calls
a “pyloric bmncli. ” His diagrams, however, picture thc
hepatic rami as coniirig off near the gastric incisure, then
ascending in the gastrohepatic omentum to the porta. H e does
N E R V E S O F CHOLEDOCHODUODENAL J U N C T I O N
25
not nieritiori o r show tlie continuatioil of tlic nerve into the
plexus of the riglit gastric artery.'
The significance of this nerve from the staiidpoint of the
present paper lies in the fact that through it a few ventral
Fig. 4 Photograph of stained preparation ( X 2 ) . Arteries removed together
with finer plexuses to display gastroduodenal nerve (Gd.n.), its relation to hepatic
plexus (H.pl.) and its subdivision into choledochoduodenal (Chd.n.) and right
gastroepiploic (R.ge.n.) nerves. Note strands of gastroduodenal plexus (Gd.pl.)
leading to common bile duct (C.b.d.). C.pl., coeliac plexus; R.g.pl., riglit gastric
plexus.
McCrea's principal studies nere made on the human newborn and on the dog.
I n the latter species, according to McCrea's drawing, the sole hepatic branch of
the ventral vagus leaves the main nerve at a point corresponding to that of a
small nerve, in figure 1, labelled Hep.br. This traverses the lesser omentum
superficial to the papillary process of the caudate lobe until it reaches the porta
hepatis. There i t divides into ascending branches, which supply liver and gall
bladder, and descending branches which follow the bile duct to the pyloric region.
By stimulating such superficially placed hepatic branches in the dog, Chiu ('42)
was able to cause contraction of the gall bladder.
I n the eat, on the contrary, the hepatic branches of the ventral vagus reach
the hepatie plexus either by trarersing the coronary nerve or by entering the
left gastric plexus which passes deep to the papillary process (figs. 7 and 9 ) .
By severing the ventral vagus in the rat Johnson and Boyden ( ' 4 3 ) were able
to retard the emptying of the gall bladder, b u t more marked effects were obtained
by severing the dorsal vagus.
26
J O H N W. S C H C L Z E A N D E D W A R D A. BOYDEN
vagus fibers attain the gastroduodenal plexus from which they
may pass a s choledochal rami to the upper part of the common
bile duct (or t o the gall bladder). The nuniber of such fibers
is, however, very small.
T h e gnstroduodmznl plexus. As the gastroduodenal artery
leaves the hepatic artery (fig. 1) it is invested with a sheath
of fine and intermediate-sized strands from the coarse nerves
of the hepatic plexus. Distal to this point on the hepatic artery
other fibers from the hepatic plexus pass into the space
between the gastroduodenal artery and the bile duct. These
two somewhat arbitrarily defined plexuses (cf. Gd.pl.l and
Gd.pl.', fig. S), together with a few recurrent fibers of the
coronary nerve, constitute the gastroduodenal plexus - a
term designed both to show the relation of the plexus t o the
artery and to distinguish it from the single trunk (the gastroduodenal nerve) which lies well to the left of the artery (Gd.n.,
fig. 3 ) . At the termination of the artery, part of the plexus
follows the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery and part the
right gastroepiploic artery. But all the way down, fine
choledochal rami are given off to the bile duct. These are
especially well shown in figure 10 (Ch.r.). (See also figs. 8,
4 and 3.)3
The gastroduodenal nerve. This is a definitive nerve forming the right upper arc of the newous ring which surrounds
the central area of the omentum. I t s composition, as displayed
in stained specimens, is best shown in figures 9 and 10 (Gd.n.).
These clearly indicate that the nerve receives fibers both
from the dorsal vagus (primarily from its coeliac division,
C.d. and 1,fig. 9, but also from its gastric division, G.d. and 2,
3 J u d g i n g from three experiments in nhich no effect on the rate of emptying
of the biliary tract was observed when the gnstrodnodenal plexus escaped section
hut the gastroduodenal nerve was cut (Johnson and Boyden, '43), it is probable
t h a t these choledochal rami of the plexus do not convey efferent fibers to the
musculature of the choledochodnodenal junction but rather are composed of
afferent and vaso-motor neuroiis. It is possible, h o n e i e r , t h a t fihers of th e
choledochoduodenal branch of the gastroduodenal nerve may occasionally traverse
the adjacent plexus. Such x course is suspected in the specimen shown in figure 8.
Therefore in seeking to eliminate the gastroduodenal nerve, experimentally, i t
has been the practice t o cut all roots of the gastroduodcnal plexus.
NERVES OF CHOLEDOCHODUODENAL JUNCTION
27
fig. 9) and from the right and left coeliac ganglion (fig. 10).
Here, in fact, three trunks (two large and one small) can be
seen passing up into the coeliac plexus from the main nerve
(Gd.n.). It would thus appear that the bulk of its fibers are
of sympathetic rig in.^
After the gastroduodenal nerve leaves the hepatic plexus it
divides into choledochoduodenal and gastroepiploic trunks.
This point of division is variable. It may be placed high up
in the right gastropancreatic fold (as in fig. lo), or extremely
low down (as in figs. 1 and 3) or, more commonly, on a level
with the upper third of the bile duct (figs. 4, 8 and 9). Its
choledochoduodenal branch - the one which merits special
attention-may pass directly to the bile duct and descend
to the junction along the left side of the duct (figs. 4 , 9 and 10)
or enter the choledochoduodenal angle from the pyloric side
(figs. 1and 3).
As the gastroduodenal nerve descends to the left of the
common bile duct, it gives off a series of choledochal rami
to the middle segment of the duct. These may branch from
the main nerve about the time it divides (fig. 9) or from its
continuation, the choledochoduodenal nerve ( Chd.n., fig. 10).
All these, together with the choledochal rami derived from
the gastroduodenal plexus, anastomose freely to form a paracholedochal plexus on the left outer surface of the bile duct
(figs. 8,11 and 12).
T h e intramural-choledochal and myenteric plexuses a t t h e
choledochoduodend juaction. The choledochal rami and duo
denal rami of the choledochoduodenal nerve and superior
pancreaticoduodenal plexus penetrate the walls of the common
'Experimentally, it can be shown that section of this nerve produces marked
delay in emptying the biliary tract by eliminating the dorsal vagal components
that pass through it t o the choledochoduodenal junction (Johnson and Boyden,
'43). Apparently its sympathetic components are not involved in regulating the
flow of bile a t the duodenal orifice, for section of all splanchnics only slightly
accelerates the flow of bile, if a t all, and this slight acceleration may be attributed to removal of the sympathetic inhibitory pathway t o the gall bladder.
Therefore, the sympathetic components of the gastroduodenal nerve are presumably afferent or vaso-motor fibers or are destined for the pancreatic, gastric
or duodenal rami of the nerve.
28
J O H N W. SCHULZE A N D EDWARD A. BOYDEN
bile duct and duodenum, respectively, and there connect with
intrinsic nerve nets (figs. 11and 12). The finer-meshed plexus
of the bile duct consists of slender, round fiber-bundles with
very small ganglia appearing as barely perceptible thickenings a t some of the nodal points (1ntramur.pl.).
The myenteric plexus (of Auerbach) lies between the longitudinal and circular muscle tunics of the duodenum and consists of broad, flat fiber-bundles with large, angular ganglia
at the nodal points.
The relationships of these plexuses and of the extrinsic
nerves at the choledochoduodenal junction have never been
adequately described. These preparations (figs. 11 and 12)
show that fiber-bundles of small size (Conn.) connect the intramural-choledochal with the myenteric plexus at the level of
the window through which the bile duct enters the duodenum.
A few transitional ganglia (Tr.gangl.), intermediate in size
between those of the myenteric plexus and the intramural
choledochal plexus, are located at the margin of the window.
The fiber-bundles emanating from these ganglia communicate
with both plexuses. The difference in size of the two nets
and the fact that the finer net accompanies the duct through
the window, indicate that the choledochal plexus is not to be
considered as merely an extension of the myenteric plexus
onto the duct, as some authors would lead one to suppose.
Our studies have not carried the choledochal plexus beyond
the point where it enters the window in the duodenal wall.
Few investigators have done so. Variot (1882), working at
a time when little was known about the musculature of the
biliary tract, examined sections of the choledochoduodenal
junction of the dog and described a plexus within the muscular
layer of the common bile duct which contained ganglia that
increased in size and number as the duodenum was approached.
He stated that in the duodenal wall where the musculatures
of the duodenum and common bile duct met, Auerbach’s
plexus was directly continuous with the intermuscular plexus
of the common bile duct. It must be remembered, however,
that he considered the muscularis of the bile duct to consist
NERVES OF CHOLEDOCHODUODENAL J U N C T I O N
29
of an inner circular,and outer longitudinal layer, which was
much thinner but nevertheless directly continuous with the
corresponding layers of the duodenum - a concept which
cannot now be accepted. Nor did he recognize the presence
of a special sphincter muscle in this region. Variot also described a collar of fairly large ganglia situated around the
base of the ampulla at the level of the submucosa of the duodenum. He considered these ganglia as belonging to the submucous plexus of Meissner and postulated that they were connected with fibers to the muscularis mucosae and the surface
epithelium. Although he examined only the dog, Variot maintained that similar relations should hold in man.
Oddi and Rosciano (1895) also described this collar of ganglion cells in the dog. I n addition, they stated that fibers,
apparently arising from these cells, formed an abundant network in the sphincter muscle. They maintained, however,
that these ganglia are not related to the ganglia of Auerbach's
o r Meissner 's plexus, but are specialized structures, which,
under the control of a spinal center, are involved in maintaining the tonicity o f t h e sphincter muscle.
Dardinski ('35) in a study concerned primarily with the
configuration and musculature of the intramural part of the
common bile duct in man, made a more or less incidental
observation concerning the nerve supply of the papilla. He
saw white glistening fibers piercing the intestinal muscle with
the blood vessels and more or less following their course.
Many such fibers could be traced to the papilla where they gave
off numerous branches. At the points of branching he noted
that the fibers were swollen and interpreted these swellings
as corresponding to the ganglia described by Oddi.
There is little doubt, therefore, that the choledochal plexus
shown in figures 11 and 12 continues along the intramural
course of the bile duct. Its significance lies in the fact that
it may be played upon by certain extrinsic nerves and that
like intrinsic plexuses in other portions of the gastrointestinal
' S e e footnote 4.
30
J O H N W. SCHULZE AND EDWARD A. BOYDEN
tract (cf. Best and Taylor, '39 ; Evans, '26) it may be responsible for the tonus of smooth muscle -in this case the sphincters
of the choledochoduodenal junction.6
DISCUSSION
The original program called for dissection of both the cat
and the human newborn, the former to be the basis for future
experimental work and the latter to provide the necessary
check f o r a comparison with man. But the difficulty of
mastering the Wharton-Sihler technique, together with the
greater complexity of the biliary autonomic tracts in mah and
the almost unsuperable difficulty offered by the pancreas, as
disclosed by preliminary dissection, has limited this study
to the cat. It is desirable, however, to make whatever comparison is possible through a survey of the literature.
The classical account of Latarjet, Bonnet and Bonniot, together with such schematic drawings as that presented in
figure 891 of the Spalteholz Atlas, suggest that the principal
pathway to the human choledochoduodenal junction is via the
plexus surrounding the bile duct. This would seem to be made
up of an anterior network largely continuous with the anterior
hepatic plexus -and, therefore, with the left coeliac ganglion - and a posterior net primarily connected with the posterior hepatic plexus and right coeliac ganglion. Little mention
is made of the pathway along the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery. Nor would it appear that there is a single nerve
in man comparable to the gastroduodenal. But it is believed
eSince the experiments of Johnson and Boyden have indicated that section of
the extrinsic nerves to the junction results only in retardation of the flow of bile
through the ampulla - the effect of eliminating the vagal components -and that
section of the splanchnics causes only slight, if any, acceleration, these authors
have postulated that the tonus of the sphincter is maintained by its intrinsic
plexus. Of special interest, in this connection are the observations of Sabussow
and Ssuslikow ('37). They found that when both the coeliac ganglia and the
vagi were eliminated in the dog, neuro-histological preparations of the gall bladder
musculature still retained some undegenerated post-ganglionic fibers. These were
interpreted as being post-ganglionic to the intramural ganglia of the gall bladder,
Le., they belonged to the intrinsic nerve net.
N E R V E S OF CHOLEDOCHODUODENAL J U N C T I O N
31
that by the use of the Wharton-Sihler method much more information can be secured regarding the distribution of fibers
in the human biliary tract. The problem demands intensive
investigation and the employment of refined techniques.
SUMMARY
The distribution of extrinsic nerves to the choledochoduodenal junction is mediated through two pathways (designated,
respectively) the gastroduodenal nerve and the gastroduodenal plexus.
The gastroduodenal nerve is a constant bundle of fibers
which parallels a t a little distance the left side of the gastroduodenal artery. It arises on the ventral side of the hepatic
artery by confluence of branches of the hepatic plexus (which
can be traced back to both right and left coeliac ganglia) and
branches of the coeliac division of the dorsal vagus. It divides
into two main branches, one of which (the choledochoduodenal)
terminates at the junction of the bile duct and the intestine.
The gastroduodenal plexus is a network of fibers surrounding the artery of that name and others lying between the artery
and the common bile duct. It is made up of fibers coming down
from the hepatic plexus and of a few recurrent fibers of the
coronary nerve (a composite bundle from the left gastric
plexus and the ventral vagus nerve).
These two gastroduodenal pathways give off small choleodochal rami which may or may not anastomose before reaching
the duct. But having reached it they form a paracholedochal
plexus that descends along the duct giving off branches to an
intrinsic network in the adventitia of the duct. This intramural choledochal plexus eventually enters the duodenal wall
with the bile duct.
In their lower course the two pathways give off small rami
to the choledochoduodenal junction. Those of the gastroduodenal plexus tend to follow the superior pancreaticoduodenal
artery and its branch the common duodenal artery. Those of
the choledochoduodenal nerve terminate both in the myenteric
plexus adjacent to the duct and in the plexus of the duct itself.
32
J O H N W. SCHULZE AND EDWARD A. BOYDEN
Nerves connecting the finer choledochal and the heavier
myenteric plexuses, at the point where the bile duct enters
the intestinal wall, can be clearly demonstrated but there
is no direct passing of one plexus into another in the sense
postulated by Variot, such as would be the case if the muscula.
ture of the bile duct were to be considered merely as a continuation of the musculature of the gut wall.
The plica longitudinalis is especially well vascularized, being
supplied not primarily by vessels that enter the wall with
the bile duct but by numerous fine branches of the second,
third, fourth, and fifth dorsal duodenal rami of the superior
pancreaticoduodenal artery. These drop down from the serosa
to embrace all surfaces of the ampulla and ducts.
I n conclusion, it may be stated that the finding of a specific
nerve to the choledochoduodenal junction and a knowledge of
its components has made possible an experimental analysis of
the nervous pathways regulating the evacuation of the biliary
tract in the cat.
LITERATURE CITED
W. F. 1940 The innervation of the biliary system. J. Comp. Neur.,
ALEXANDER,
V O ~ . 72, pp. 357-369.
BURKETAYLOR1939 The physiological
BEST, CHARLESHERBERT,AND NORMAN
basis of medical practice. Williams and Wilkins Co., Baltimore.
(LOC.cit., p. 774.)
BOYDEN,E. A. 1937 The sphincter of Oddi in man and certain representative
mammals. Surgery, vol. 1, pp. 25-37.
CHIU, SHAO-LING1942 The nerves of the gall bladder and their function.
Master ' 8 theeis, deposited in the library of the University of Minnesota.
V. J. 1935 The anatomy of the major duodenal papilla of man, with
DARDINSKI,
special reference to its musculature. J. Anat., vol. 69, pp. 469-478.
EVANS,
C. L. 1926 The physiology of plain muscle. Physiol. Rev., vol. 6, pp.
358-398.
GAMBLE,D. L. 1939 Liquid latex as an injection mass for blood vessels.
Science, vol. 90, p. 520.
JOHNSON,
FRANK
E., AND E. A. BOYDEN1943 The effect of sectioning various
autonomic nerves upon the rate of emptying of the biliary tract in
the cat. Surg., Gyn. and Ohst., vol. 76, pp. 395-410.
KOLLMAN,
J. 1860 Uber den Verlauf der Lungenmagennerven in der Bauchhohle. Ztschr. f. wiss. Zool., Bd. 10, S. 413449.
LATARJET,A., P. BONNETAND A. BONNIOT 1920 Les nerfs du foie et des voies
biliares. Lyon Chir., T. 17, pp. 13-35.
NERVES O F CHOLEDOCHODUODENAL J U N C T I O N
33
MCCREA,
E. D. 1924 The abdominal distribution of the vagus. J. Anat., vol. 59,
pp. 18-39.
ODDI,R., AND G. ROSCIANO 1895 Sulla esistenza di speciali gangli nervosi in
prossimita dello sfintere del coledoco. Monitore zool. ital., T. 5, pp.
216-219.
SABUSSOW,G. H., AND A. I?. SSOSLIKOW1937 Experimentell-morphologische
Analyse der autonomen Innervation der Gallenblase der Saugetiere.
Zeitschr. f . Anat-u. Entwk., Bd. 106, S. 739-748.
SCHULZE,
JOHNW. 1940 The innervation and blood supply of the choledochoduodenal junction. Master's thesis, deposited in the library of the
University of Minnesota.
SPALTEHOLZ,
W. 1912 Hand Atlas of Human Anatomy. Philadelphia and
London. J . B. Lippincott Company. 2nd ed. in English translated by
L. P. Barker. LOC.eit., vol. 2, pp. 422 and 423; figs. 464 and 465.
Vol. 3, pp. 707-711, 767.
STOWELL,T. B. 1861 The vagus nerve in the domestic cat (Felis domestics).
Am. Phil. SOC.Proc., vol. 20, pp. 123-1838.
VALENTIN,0. G. 1841 Th. von Sommering 's Hirn- und Nervenlehre, ungearbeitet
von Valentin. Leipzig. (Cited by Kollman and Perman.)
VARIOT,G. 1882 Sur les nerfs des voies biliares extra-hepatiques. J. de l'anat
et de la physiol., T. 18, pp. 600-609.
WHARTON,
L. R. 1932 The innervation of the ureter, with respect to denervation.
J . Urol., vol. 28, pp. 639-673.
1937 a A technique for studying the innervation of organs.
Anat. Rec., vol. '67, pp. 4 6 9 4 7 5 .
1937 b Studies on the innervation of the reproductive organa of
Macacus rhesus. Anat. Rec., vol. 68, pp. 43-61.
PLATE 1
EXPLANATION OF FIGURES
5 Ventral view of cleared preparation of stomach and duodenum of an adult
cat that has been injected with liquid latex (natural size). Photographed against
a white background to show relation of the common bile duct (C.b.d.) t o the
superior pancreaticoduodenal artery and its proximal, dorsal duodenal rami
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ) . The duodenum has been rotated counter clockwise (as viewed
from the pyloric end) and the bile duct pulled up to the reader’s left t o expose
vessels on its deeper surface. R.g.a., right gastric artery; Cor.v., coronary vein.
For further orientation, compare with text and figure 1.
6 Accurate drawing of cleared preparation of choledochoduodenal junction
of cat injected with liquid latex and India ink ( X 6). Some orientation as
in figure 5. C.b.d., common bile duct lying on first part of duodenum. Asterisk,
point where duct enters duodenal wall and begins to sink obliquely toward papilla
(left). 2, 3, 4, 5, second t o fifth dorsal duodenal rami (cf. fig. 5 ) . The blackest
vessels lie in the serosal layer. Dilution of color indicates that the smaller
branches are receding to deeper levels. Note those which are spreading out on the
intramural surface of the duct. Pan., lobules of pancreas adherent t o serosa.
Note . that the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery forks around this line of
insertion. The branch above the letters is the ventral division of the artery,
giving off ventral duodenal rami. That below is the dorsal division. The main
stem of the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery is at the extreme right, above
the letters C.b.d.
34
NERVES O F C H O L E D O C H O D V O U E K A L J [ - X C T I O K
J O H N I!’
SCHULZA, A N D EDWARD A. U O Y D E N
35
I’LATE 1
PLATE 2
EXPLANATION OF FIGURES
Photographs of fixed and stained specimens of the lesser onieiitum of the cat,
prepared by the Whnrton-Sihler technique and dissected under a binocular microscope by J. W. Schulze. Only a narrow strip of the stomach (lesser curvature) has
been retained. All blood ressels, f a t , and extraneous tissues h a l e been removed by
patient dissection, leaving merely the plexus of nerres. ( F o r relation of nerx cs t o
arteries, sec figs. 1 and 3 ) . I n all cases the common bile duct Ilns been retracted
and pinned to the xirwcr's left in order to display the fibers normally lying
between the duct and the gastroduodenal artery.
7 This photograph ( X 8/9) reveals the enormous eutcwt of the plexuses t h a t
follow the branches of the coeliac artery. Beginning a l ~ o l e ,uote right and left
splanchnic nerves (R.sp.n. and L.sp.n.) entering their rrspectii e coeliac ganglia
(Gn.) and the coeliac plexus (C.pl.). Ahole, to tlie viener's riylit, obserre the
dorsal vagus (D.v.) dividing into coeliac (C.d.) and gastric dixisioiis (G.d.) ;
below this, note the branches of the ventral mgus (I7.\.), some of which unite
with the left gastric plexus (L.g.pl.) to form the coronary nerve of tlie lesser
curvature (C.n.). For details of fibers on side next to common bile duct (C.b.d.),
see figure 8, a higher magnification of this region.
8 Enlarged photograph of choledochal side of figure 7 ( X 1 2 ) . Gd.n.*, gastroduodenal nerve, broken during dissection. Xote t h a t it receives fibers both from
the coeliac division of the dorsal vagus (Gd.n.') and from thc coeliac plexus (C.pl.),
and t h a t it continues beneath the pylorus a s the right gastroepiploic nerve (R.ge.n.).
Its choledochoduodenal branch is missing. ( F o r this branch, see Chd.n., figs. 10, 9,
4 and 3 ) . Gd.pl.', gastroduodenal plexus ; portion t h a t surronnded artery of same
name ; Gd.pl.*, second portion of gastrodnodenal plexiis, lying between artery and
common bile duct. Both divisions (see figure) send choledochal rami t o common
bile duct. Their lower fibers converge t o form the right gastroepiploic plexus
(R.ge.pl.) which follows the artery of t h a t name t o pancreas and greater curvature
of stomach. C.n., coronary nerve of lesser curvature, a continuation of fibers from
the left gastric plexus and ventral vagus (fig. 7 ) ; note that it passes deep t o the
gastroduodenal nerve (Gd.n.2) and continues into the gastroduodenal and hepatic
plexuses (Gd.pl.*, H.pl.') .
9 Photograph of another specimen ( X 8/9) displaying anomalous branch (An.)
of ventral vagus (V.V.). This can be traced across lesser omentum to bile duct and
hepatic plexus (H.pl.). Note double vagal origin of gastroduodenal nerve (Gd.n.) :
1, from main stem of dorsal vagus and 2, from gastric division of t h a t nerve.
Distally it heads straight f o r the bile duct (C.h.d.). Pd.pl., superior pancreaticoduodenal plexus ; R.ge.pl., right gastroepiploic plexus ; R.g.pl., right gastric plexus.
These are at a deeper level than the gastroduodenal nerve. Note t h a t the latter
forks low doMm, as compared with specimen in figure 10. For explanation of other
legends, see figure 7.
10 Photograph of still another specimen ( X l g ) , showing unusually high division of gastroduodenal nerve (Gd.n.) into clio1edochoduodenaI (Chd.n.) and right
gastroepiploic nerves (R.gc.n.) . Note complex gastroduodenal plexus (Gd.pl.)
giving off choledochal rami (C1i.r.) to the common bile duct. Observe t h a t the
gastroduodenal nerve (Gd.11.) can be traced upwards into the coeliac plexus (Cpl.)
and coeliac division of the dorsal r a g n s (D.v.).
36
PLATE 2
37
PLATE 3
EXPLANATION OF FIGURES
11 and 1 2 Drawings of the choledochoduodenal junction of specimens decolorized with acid alcohol ( X 10). The duodenal segment is spread out with the
mueosal surface down. The mucosa and most of the submucosa have been
scraped off t o increase the translucence of the duodenal wall. The longitudinal
muscle has been partially removed in order t o show more clearly the myenteric
plexus. I n this process some of the muscle fibers around the window through
which the bile duet enters the intestine have been severed, but the relations of
the plexuses t o the duct nnd window remain undisturbed. The myenterie plexus is
incomplete. Some parts of it came off with the longitudinal muscle, other parts
did not stain well. The intramural choledochal plexus, which lies in the fibrous
coat of the bile duct, is somewhat over emphasized, being more delicate than
indicated. Note that it descends with the duct through the window. Conn., small
nerve trunks connecting the intramural choledochal and myenteric plexuses;
Ra.gd.pl., a ramns of the gastroduodenal plexus; Ra.gd.n., a ramus of the gastroduodenal nerve ; Parach.pl., extramural choledochal plexus formed by extrinsic
nerves ; Tr.gangl., ganglia transitional between those of the intramural choledoehal
and myenteric plexuses.
38
PIJATE 3
39